Neena - we're getting sidelined because of Brexit
Britain's MEPs have been sidelined by the European Union and now have limited influence in Brussels, according to Labour Euro MP Neena Gill.
She says the UK's MEPs have been snubbed for positions on influential reports since Article 50 was triggered, which will see Britain leave the EU in March 2019.
Ms Gill, who backed Remain in the EU referendum, said the Brexit vote was treated 'like a bereavement' in the EU's corridors of power.
She says Britain's MEPs have gone from being 'super influential' to having little impact, as politicians from other members states turn their backs on the UK.
"It's not that we are no longer able to work together but we just don't have as much influence," said Ms Gill, who is a Labour MEP and sits on the EU committee on economic and monetary affairs.
"It used to be that if British member said something we had that reputation as a large member state which could have genuine influence on what was going on.
"We were super-influential. Now everybody knows that we are going and things have changed. In politics when people know you are not going to be back, you no longer matter.
"I've found that it has affected the things I was doing on my committee, where I have been a leading person dealing with the economy and monetary affairs.
"I was the first one to get a major report through in 2014, now I can't get one. When I have raised issues asking why I am not getting anywhere the response I get is 'well you're leaving'.
"They call it 'the British thing'. Because we are leaving, people think these decisions are longer term and that we have no stake in it.
"I keep reminding them that we are still going to be neighbours and that what happens here in terms of the economy will impact us.
"It has created divisions because I feel like I naturally have to fight the corner of the UK.
"At the same time I can understand why they feel that Britain has made its decision, and from the EU's perspective they are not going to do anything that undermines the European interest."
She added: "There were instances where people were saying that we [British MEPs] should all be forced to resign or that we can only continue as observers.
"We've had to fight pretty hard to continue to do our work and there have been some successes."
Providing the Government sticks to the Brexit timeline, Britain's 73 MEPs will be heading home on March 31, 2019, shortly before the next scheduled elections for the European Parliament.
The EU has yet to decide how to allocate the vacant seats, although a recent proposal suggested the creation of a single European constituency.
Previous efforts by federalists to create EU-wide MEPs have been shot down as unrealistic by member states, but some MEPs say Brexit provides the perfect opportunity to revive the scheme.
